Five things to watch at Pats minicamp

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The Patriots take the field today for the first time during their mandatory three-day minicamp at Gillette Stadium, marking their last hurrah before they depart for a month-and-a-half summer break.

As such, this is the final time to scout the team before training camp. The Patriots will open three practices to the media, and here are five things to watch this week.

1. Consistency Is Key:

The chance to watch three consecutive practices is valuable in understanding how the Patriots view certain players. While it stuck out that players such as running back Shane Vereen and cornerback Devin McCourty got a lot of reps at their positions during organized team activities, only three of the Patriots’ 10 OTAs were open to the media. Therefore, certain players could have been used in completely different roles during the private sessions. Minicamp will offer a glimpse at how the coaches believe the players have progressed during the nine weeks of offseason workouts.

2. Offensive Rhythm:

Tom Brady got into a nice groove Thursday with Wes Welker, Deion Branch and Julian Edelman, and Brady also has worked closely with Brandon Lloyd during OTAs. It’s obvious how much Brady trusts Welker and Branch, but the quarterback hasn’t been able to find that type of rhythm with a third wide receiver in years. That’s why the Patriots signed Lloyd and two of Brady’s other recent favorites in Jabar Gaffney and Donte Stallworth. It’s time to see how much they can stick out during minicamp.

3. Intensity Level:

The atmosphere at minicamp is typically more intense than OTAs. And last week, Brady barked at his teammates when the energy fell below his standard. Therefore, the expectation is that the pace should really liven up this week, particularly since this is their last opportunity to practice together until the end of July. The Patriots have referenced the fact that this stretch of workouts is important for team building, and the intensity at minicamp can offer a peek into the character of the team.

4. Special Teams Standouts:

The depth charts are crowded at wide receiver and cornerback. While the players are carving out a hierarchy at each position, the wild card comes on special teams. That’s why Matthew Slater has been on the roster since 2008, and Edelman has been one of the NFL’s better punt returners when healthy. It’s also how Kyle Arrington stuck around before becoming a starting cornerback. The Patriots have given Stallworth a chance as a kick returner, and cornerbacks like Sterling Moore, Alfonzo Dennard and Will Allen will need to display value on special teams to make the squad. That’s why it’s worthwhile to see how many opportunities certain players earn when they’re working through a crowded depth chart.

5. Injury Updates:

Left guard Logan Mankins (knee), tight end Rob Gronkowski (ankle), linebacker Brandon Spikes (knee) and right tackle Sebastian Vollmer (unknown injury, though his back was an issue in 2011) were the key players who missed all three of the media sessions during OTAs for health reasons. Tight end Aaron Hernandez was mysteriously absent during Thursday’s session, too. It’s not that big of a deal for a player to miss time at this point in the offseason unless, of course, a player suffers a setback or a new injury. Therefore, any sign of progress is noteworthy.